"With socialism still closely associated with the decades of brutality carried out in its name, public anger has few outlets for expression except nationalism and protofascism."
Naomi Klein
THE SHOCK DOCTRINE
When the movement to repeal "Obamacare" ended in a self-induced train wreck, the one-party state representing the one percent found itself in temporary limbo. In the confusion, we the people have an opportunity to get accurate damage reports. What stands out is that the goal of the one percent is to impoverish the rest of us, because people who are barely scraping by lack time and energy to think for themselves. Strictly business: there is money in Obamacare, in Medicare and Social Security accounts, in National Parks and infrastructure maintenance, among other sources. The elites do not have it and since greed, like all addictions, has no end, they want it. They have a government in place determined to get it for them, an elected government which functions on the premise that unmitigated greed is the source of all human progress. We'll see.
While the pitch directed to the Tea Partiers is freedom from the intrusive government interference of Obamacare, the core of the repeal is a massive tax cut for the rich. Since governments function only because people pay taxes, the U.S. government will be obligated to cut spending on programs that help the common people--disguised as freedom. The wealthy sincerely believe they deserve to possess everything. People are momentarily aware of the hardships this transfer will cause, and the left could take advantage of this awareness, and make an honest, enthusiastic push for nationwide single-payer healthcare. Most Americans, secretly or openly, admire and envy the Canadians. Why not flatter them sincerely with imitation? Of course, Democrats have not forgotten how Bill Clinton's healthcare proposal was cruelly battered by the right, nor have they forgotten that not a single Republican voted for Obama's plan, though it was originally a Republican program. And they cannot forget that the right is in control of the entire national government. There is no way single-payer healthcare would be adopted in the United States in 2017, which is the point: the Democrats have been backed into a corner, and have nothing to lose...nothing. Most Americans want healthcare available for all, and Democrats, presented with an opportunity to show they truly represent the ninety-nine percent, can change the country's perceptions.
The Republicans' pitch to "repeal and replace" Obamacare shows they know how popular universal healthcare is. What the owners and leaders of the Republican Party want is repeal: end government participation in healthcare and return to the "good old days" before a "Kenyan" tried ordering Americans about. The hallmark of those halcyon times (for them) was unfettered free enterprise--every man for himself. While rugged individualism sounds good in theory, it is small comfort to someone who is bankrupted by health problems over which he has little if any control. But outright repeal could have adverse effects at the polls, so the politicians for the one percent tried to hide the pea again with vague attempts to "replace." But now the nutshell has turned over, the pea is exposed, and people see the con job. Liberals have a rare opportunity to change the game.
Of course the rightwing Ministry of Truth (Madison Avenue, talk radio, cable TV news) will howl, as it does whenever people get together to promote the general welfare. Frightening cries of socialism, communism and loss of freedom are heard constantly. And there is always war. Donald Trump, suddenly "shocked" at the ongoing Syrian mayhem, responds with missiles, knowing that explosions are effective pea hiders. Next he drops the biggest non-atomic bomb ever on Afghanistan. Then he goes and trades schoolyard taunts with North Korea. Scare enough people with fear of imminent war, and those in power can do anything. The big perception problem for right wingers now is that they have complete control, and their trickle-down policies are obviously not working. Blaming the "Kenyan" is starting to wear thin. In the chaos of utter defeat, liberals momentarily have the rare upper hand, which they would be wise to play. Americans are paying close attention to actual events in greater numbers than they have in many years. They are ready for the truth.
An enthusiastic effort to bring single-payer healthcare to America will be noticed and welcomed. Why not throw in a constitutional amendment declaring corporations are not human? To do these things with the help of the Democratic Party would be helpful, but with or without the Democrats, it is time for left wingers to take the initiative. The opportunity will not last long. Trump is determined to get us into another war, and when we go to war, dissent gets suppressed. And wars last a long, long time.
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Thursday, April 6, 2017
EVIL FOR A GOOD CAUSE
"Despite my sharp disagreement with the authoritarian political system of Chile, I do not regard it as evil for an economist to render technical economic advice to the Chilean government."
Milton Friedman, 1982
Hoping to implement his ideals of economic purity, Friedman washed his hands of the fact that Chile had gone, through brute force, from a democracy to an American-sponsored police state. He believed his goal of an economy free of all government control (mere theory until he had a chance to test it with the Chilean military coup) was within reach. Therefore any and all assaults on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were acceptable (albeit sharply disagreeable) since upon full achievement of economic liberty, the other liberties would naturally be restored. Friedman, one of the holy trinity (along with Ayn Rand and Ronald Reagan) of the free enterprise religion, was not about to let his opportunity go to waste. That the Chilean experiment failed miserably is forgotten. Disciples of the capitalist religion are now in control of the United States government. Some of us feel a healthy fear of the future.
Lenin's smug allusion to breaking eggs in order to make an omelet, as if people were something to eat, is similar to Friedman's stand on helping rightwing authoritarians. To Leninism's true believers, as it is with adherents to the free enterprise faith, purgatory is a necessary stop on the road to nirvana. In our circular universe the two mortal enemies among economic theories have grown so far apart they have come back around and tied themselves together in their belief that the end justifies the means. Donald Trump's newly vaporized chief advisor, Steve Bannon, calls himself a "Leninist."
(As an aside: does it seems Trump uses people the way most of us use napkins or other paper goods?) America has arrived at a historical moment similar to Russia in 1917 and Chile in 1973. Events will unfold according to American culture in the twenty-first century, but the similarities are that the people in charge of the nation are convinced they are on the brink of a new world. They are bent on bringing it about, and they are so sure of their moral righteousness that they will forge ahead, impervious to whatever anguish they might inflict on those who stand in the way.
Small wonder many rightwing politicians avoid meeting their constituents. They answer to a higher authority: the magic hand of the marketplace, which if fully liberated will bring in an era (why not a millennium) of peace, freedom, and prosperity heretofore unknown to mankind. Of course, the lame, the halt, the "useless", must be gotten out of the way as efficiently as possible. Same with the rebels. But to true believers, the worst barrier to the new era of health, wealth and wisdom is the United States government, which they now control. All who benefit from this government must be either liberated or jettisoned. For those who will not quietly accept the new order, the police and military organs of the government will be retained and used. America probably will not endure the ongoing wholesale slaughter that was Russia from 1917 to 1953, or even the more surgically directed terror in Chile between 1973 and 1988. But they who now rule America must use some force to establish their ideal society, for the simple reason that Americans overwhelmingly approve the government programs and protections that the one-party state intends to eliminate.
Remembering that the Chilean junta replaced a popularly elected government, we can all come up with scenarios about the dystopia we have elected. Why not--imagination is the key to progress. But we also need to take stock of reality, which is that America's one-party government is dedicated to eliminating itself. Since one of the most important rules of our politics is that people can change their minds, the losing side can and should continue using all available methods of persuasion short of armed rebellion to bring about the changes. We are not dealing with small changes. What we face in the short run is termination of programs that benefit most Americans, and giving that money to the wealthy. People who think this is a good idea are of course entitled to their opinions--but so are those who think it is insane. Getting over it is not an option.
The kernel of reality is that we are in a long, hard struggle against powers with enormous influence, supported by people who are irrevocably convinced that the only hope for preserving our democracy is to destroy it. Those of us who are unconvinced we are on the cusp of a wonderful new millennium need to persistently practice the same old methods of protest even when it seems our democracy is gone, to stay cheerful even when the news is completely depressing, to stick together and encourage one another, even when it seems we're all alone.
Or we can await our dystopian scenarios.
Milton Friedman, 1982
Hoping to implement his ideals of economic purity, Friedman washed his hands of the fact that Chile had gone, through brute force, from a democracy to an American-sponsored police state. He believed his goal of an economy free of all government control (mere theory until he had a chance to test it with the Chilean military coup) was within reach. Therefore any and all assaults on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were acceptable (albeit sharply disagreeable) since upon full achievement of economic liberty, the other liberties would naturally be restored. Friedman, one of the holy trinity (along with Ayn Rand and Ronald Reagan) of the free enterprise religion, was not about to let his opportunity go to waste. That the Chilean experiment failed miserably is forgotten. Disciples of the capitalist religion are now in control of the United States government. Some of us feel a healthy fear of the future.
Lenin's smug allusion to breaking eggs in order to make an omelet, as if people were something to eat, is similar to Friedman's stand on helping rightwing authoritarians. To Leninism's true believers, as it is with adherents to the free enterprise faith, purgatory is a necessary stop on the road to nirvana. In our circular universe the two mortal enemies among economic theories have grown so far apart they have come back around and tied themselves together in their belief that the end justifies the means. Donald Trump's newly vaporized chief advisor, Steve Bannon, calls himself a "Leninist."
(As an aside: does it seems Trump uses people the way most of us use napkins or other paper goods?) America has arrived at a historical moment similar to Russia in 1917 and Chile in 1973. Events will unfold according to American culture in the twenty-first century, but the similarities are that the people in charge of the nation are convinced they are on the brink of a new world. They are bent on bringing it about, and they are so sure of their moral righteousness that they will forge ahead, impervious to whatever anguish they might inflict on those who stand in the way.
Small wonder many rightwing politicians avoid meeting their constituents. They answer to a higher authority: the magic hand of the marketplace, which if fully liberated will bring in an era (why not a millennium) of peace, freedom, and prosperity heretofore unknown to mankind. Of course, the lame, the halt, the "useless", must be gotten out of the way as efficiently as possible. Same with the rebels. But to true believers, the worst barrier to the new era of health, wealth and wisdom is the United States government, which they now control. All who benefit from this government must be either liberated or jettisoned. For those who will not quietly accept the new order, the police and military organs of the government will be retained and used. America probably will not endure the ongoing wholesale slaughter that was Russia from 1917 to 1953, or even the more surgically directed terror in Chile between 1973 and 1988. But they who now rule America must use some force to establish their ideal society, for the simple reason that Americans overwhelmingly approve the government programs and protections that the one-party state intends to eliminate.
Remembering that the Chilean junta replaced a popularly elected government, we can all come up with scenarios about the dystopia we have elected. Why not--imagination is the key to progress. But we also need to take stock of reality, which is that America's one-party government is dedicated to eliminating itself. Since one of the most important rules of our politics is that people can change their minds, the losing side can and should continue using all available methods of persuasion short of armed rebellion to bring about the changes. We are not dealing with small changes. What we face in the short run is termination of programs that benefit most Americans, and giving that money to the wealthy. People who think this is a good idea are of course entitled to their opinions--but so are those who think it is insane. Getting over it is not an option.
The kernel of reality is that we are in a long, hard struggle against powers with enormous influence, supported by people who are irrevocably convinced that the only hope for preserving our democracy is to destroy it. Those of us who are unconvinced we are on the cusp of a wonderful new millennium need to persistently practice the same old methods of protest even when it seems our democracy is gone, to stay cheerful even when the news is completely depressing, to stick together and encourage one another, even when it seems we're all alone.
Or we can await our dystopian scenarios.
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